Centric relation bite registration tool

ABSTRACT

The centric relation bite registration tool is a tool for recording the centric relation of a patient&#39;s mandible in order to obtain proper occlusion to fabricate a full mouth fixed dental prosthesis. The centric relation bite registration tool includes both a vertically adjustable portion and a horizontally adjustable portion. The vertically adjustable portion is adapted for mounting in a dental implant in the patient&#39;s mandibular arch, and the horizontally adjustable portion is adapted for mounting in a dental implant in the patient&#39;s maxillary arch. The vertically adjustable portion and the horizontally adjustable portion are releasably secured to one another between the mandibular and maxillary arches providing a single tool which is both horizontally and vertically adjustable for recordation of the proper occlusion between the patient&#39;s mandible and maxilla.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to the fabrication of dental prosthetics,and more particularly to a tool for recording a dental patient's centricrelation for accurate reproduction of the proper relation for thepatient's upper and lower teeth in the dental prosthesis.

2. Description of the Related Art

Due to a wide variety of conditions and situations, a dental patient maylose all of the teeth in his or her maxillary and mandibular arches. Inorder to replace these missing teeth, a dentist will place implantfixtures in both the maxillary and mandibular arches. In order tofabricate a dental prosthesis for the patient, abutments are attached tothose implants, and then crowns are either cemented or screwed to theseabutments. In order to properly perform this procedure, it is necessaryto record the relation of the mandible to the maxilla.

Generally, in dentistry, the “centric relation” is the mandibular jawposition in which the head of the condyle is situated as far anteriorlyand superiorly as it possibly can within the mandibular fossa/glenoidfossa. However, when the patient loses his or her teeth, the centricrelation is also lost, thus a way of finding the centric relation isneeded in order to achieve the proper relation for the upper and lowerteeth to produce good occlusion for the dental prosthesis. In order tofind the lost centric relation, it is necessary to use a device thatrecords the exact position of the mandible in relation to the maxilla.Typically, this is performed using an acrylic base material. Thisacrylic base is fabricated in a laboratory on a cast. Following this,the dentist places this acrylic base over the implant and the mandibleis manipulated back to its position. This is followed by using asilicone base registration material. At that that time, the centricrelation is recorded back.

The recorded relation may then be sent to the laboratory to beginfabrication of the dental prosthesis in the particular recordedposition. This recordation process, however, requires the patient toundergo multiple appointments for the various stages of the procedure,and the process is susceptible to errors and inaccuracies in the centricrelation recordation. Thus, a centric relation bite registration toolsolving the aforementioned problems is desired.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The centric relation bite registration tool is a tool for recording thecentric relation of a patient's mandible in order to obtain properocclusion to fabricate a full mouth fixed dental prosthesis. The centricrelation bite registration tool includes both a vertically adjustableportion and a horizontally adjustable portion. The vertically adjustableportion is adapted for mounting in a dental implant in the patient'smandibular arch, and the horizontally adjustable portion is adapted formounting in a dental implant in the patient's maxillary arch. Thevertically adjustable portion and the horizontally adjustable portionare releasably secured to one another between the mandibular andmaxillary arches providing a single tool which is both horizontally andvertically adjustable for recordation of the proper occlusion betweenthe patient's mandible and maxilla.

The vertically adjustable portion includes a main body portion havingopposed first and second ends. A first base portion is mounted on thesecond end of the main body portion. The first base portion is adaptedfor removable mounting in the dental implant in the patient's mandibulararch. The vertically adjustable portion also includes a verticallyadjustable post which has a free end and a fixed end. The fixed end ishoused within the main body portion of the vertically adjustable portionand the free end projects outwardly from the first end of the main bodyportion. The vertically adjustable post is selectively verticallyadjustable with respect to the main body portion and may be selectivelylocked at a fixed vertical height with respect to the main body portion.

The horizontally adjustable portion includes a frame, which has opposedclosed and open ends, and a second base portion which is adapted forremovable mounting in the dental implant in the patient's maxillaryarch. The second base portion is mounted on the closed end of the frame.A sliding member is received within the frame of the horizontallyadjustable portion, such that the sliding member is selectivelyhorizontally adjustable with respect to the frame and may be selectivelylocked at a fixed horizontal position with respect to the frame. A mountis secured to a central portion of the sliding member. The mount has arecess defined therein for releasably receiving the free end of thevertically adjustable post of the vertically adjustable portion. Thefree end of the vertically adjustable post engages the mount through theopen end of the frame.

In use, the first base of the vertically adjustable portion is attachedto the dental implant in the patient's mandibular arch, and the secondbase of the horizontally adjustable portion is attached to the dentalimplant in the patient's maxillary arch. The height of the verticallyadjustable post is adjusted until it contacts the mount of thehorizontally adjustable portion. In this way, the vertical dimension ofMe centric relation recordation can be determined. The sliding member isthen horizontally adjusted within the frame until the proper horizontalcentric relation is determined.

These and other features of the present invention will become readilyapparent upon further review of the following specification.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is an environmental side view of a centric relation biteregistration tool according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a side view of a vertically adjustable portion of the centricrelation bite registration tool.

FIG. 3 is a side view in section of the vertically adjustable portion ofFIG. 2.

FIG. 4 is a front view of a horizontally adjustable portion of thecentric relation bite registration tool in partial section.

FIG. 5 is a side view of the horizontally adjustable portion FIG. 4.

Unless otherwise indicated, similar reference characters denotecorresponding features consistently throughout the attached drawings.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

The centric relation bite registration tool 10 is a tool for recordingthe centric relation of a patient's mandible in order to obtain properocclusion to fabricate a full mouth fixed dental prosthesis. As shown inFIG. 1, the centric relation bite registration tool 10 includes both avertically adjustable portion 12 and a horizontally adjustable portion40. The vertically adjustable portion 12 is adapted for mounting in adental implant 74 in the patient's mandibular arch, and the horizontallyadjustable portion 40 is adapted for mounting in a dental implant 72 inthe patient's maxillary arch. As will be described in greater detailbelow, the vertically adjustable portion 12 and the horizontallyadjustable portion 40 are releasably secured to one another between themandibular and maxillary arches providing a single tool which is bothhorizontally and vertically adjustable for recordation of the properocclusion between the patient's mandible and maxilla.

As best shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the vertically adjustable portion 12includes a main body portion 18 having opposed first and second ends 20,22, respectively. A first base portion 14 is mounted on the second end22 of main body portion 18. The first base portion 14 is adapted forremovable mounting in dental implant 74 in the patient's mandibulararch. Similarly, as shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, the horizontally adjustableportion 40 includes a second base portion 42, which is adapted forremovable mounting in dental implant 72 in the patient's maxillary arch.The main body portion 18 is shown as having a substantially cylindricalcontour, and each of the first and second base portions 14, 42 are shownas having substantially frustoconical contours with first and secondpegs 82, 84 respectively projecting outwardly therefrom. It should beunderstood that these configurations are exemplary and are shown for usewith the particular tissue-level implants 74, 72 shown in the example ofFIG. 1. It should be understood that first and second base portions 14,42 may have any suitable configuration for releasable engagement withany suitable type of dental implants.

The vertically adjustable portion 12 further includes a verticallyadjustable post 24. As best shown in FIG. 3, the vertically adjustablepost 24 has a free end 26 and a fixed end 34. The fixed end 34, whichmay include a retaining stop or rim, as shown, is housed within the mainbody portion 18, and the free end 26 projects outwardly from the firstend 20 of main body portion 18.

The vertically adjustable post 24 is selectively vertically adjustablewith respect to the main body portion 18 via sliding action through avertical opening or passage 32. The vertically adjustable post 24 may beselectively locked at a fixed vertical height with respect to the mainbody portion 18. As best seen in FIG. 3, a push button 28 may bespring-biased (at end or stop 36) via spring or elastic element 32,mounted within main body portion 18. As shown, a substantially ovalgroove or recess 30 is cut into a central portion of the push button 28(within main body portion 18) such that positioning of the verticallyadjustable post 24 within the center of groove or recess 30 allows forfree vertical adjustment thereof, but contact under elastic pressure(via the biasing of spring or elastic element 32) between the verticallyadjustable post 24 and the sides of groove or recess 30 providesufficient frictional force to releasably lock the vertically adjustablepost 24 in place. It should, however, be understood that any suitabletype of releasable fixture or locking mechanism may be used toreleasably lock vertically adjustable post 24 at a desired verticalheight with respect to main body portion 18.

As best shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, the horizontally adjustable portion 40includes a frame 44, which has opposed closed and open ends, 46, 48,respectively, and the second base portion 42 which, as noted above, isadapted for removable mounting in dental implant 72 in the patient'smaxillary arch. The second base portion 42 is mounted on the closed end46 of the frame 44. A sliding member 52 is received within the frame 44,such that the sliding member 52 is selectively horizontally adjustablewith respect to frame 44 and may be selectively locked at a fixedhorizontal position with respect to the frame 44. As shown, the slidingmember 52 has opposed free and fixed ends, 56, 86, respectively, withthe fixed end 86 being mounted within frame 44, and with the free end 56projecting through a horizontally extending slot 50 formed through asidewall of frame 44. As shown, the free end 56 may be threaded forreleasably engaging a nut 68 or the like to hold the sliding member 52in place with respect to frame 44, although it should be understood thatany suitable type of releasable fixture or locking structure may be usedto releasably lock the sliding member 52 in a desired horizontalposition within the frame 44.

A mount 60 is secured to a central portion 54 of the sliding member 52.The mount 60 has a recess 62 defined therein for releasably receivingthe free end 26 of the vertically adjustable post 24 of the verticallyadjustable portion 12. The free end 26 of the vertically adjustable post24 engages the mount 60 through the open end 48 of the frame 44. Mount60 may be adjustable along the axial direction of sliding member 52,allowing the positioning of mount 60 to be horizontally adjustable alongtwo axes.

In use, the base 14 of vertically adjustable portion 12 is attached toimplant 74 in the patient's mandibular arch, and base 42 of horizontallyadjustable portion 40 is attached to implant 72 in the patient'smaxillary arch, as shown in FIG. 1. The height of vertically adjustablepost 24 is adjusted until it contacts the mount 60 (with free end 26engaging recess 62) of the horizontally adjustable portion 40. In thisway, the vertical dimension of the centric relation recordation can bedetermined. The sliding member 52 is then horizontally adjusted withinframe 44 until the proper horizontal centric relation is determined.

The centric relation bite registration tool 10 can be made from areusable material, such as a sterilizeable plastic.

It is to be understood that the present invention is not limited to theembodiments described above, but encompasses any and all embodimentswithin the scope of the following claims.

We claim:
 1. A centric relation bite registration tool, comprising: avertically adjustable portion; including: a main body portion havingopposed first and second ends, the main body portion further includingvertical and horizontal passages therethrough; a first base portion, afirst engaging peg projecting outwardly from the first base portion andadapted for removable mounting in a dental implant in a patient'smandibular arch, the first base portion being mounted on the second endof the main body portion; a vertically adjustable post, the verticallyadjustable post being selectively vertically adjustable with respect tothe main body portion via sliding action through the vertical passage,the vertically adjustable post having a free end and a fixed end, thefixed end thereof being housed within the main body portion of saidvertically adjustable portion, the free end thereof projecting outwardlyfrom the first end of the main body portion; a spring-biased buttonmounted in the horizontal passage in the main body portion, thespring-biased button having a recess configured and dimensioned toreceive the vertically adjustable post therein, the spring-biased buttondefining a release for securing the vertically adjustable post at afixed vertical height with respect to the main body portion of saidvertically adjustable portion; and a horizontally adjustable portion,including: a frame having opposed closed and open ends; a second baseportion, a second engaging peg projecting outwardly from the second baseportion and adapted for removable mounting in a dental implant in thepatient's maxillary arch, the second base portion being mounted on theclosed end of the frame; a sliding member received within the frame ofsaid horizontally adjustable portion, wherein the sliding member isselectively horizontally adjustable with respect to the frame, furtherwherein the sliding member of said horizontally adjustable portion hasopposed free and fixed ends, the fixed end thereof being mounted withinthe frame, the free end thereof projecting through a horizontallyextending slot formed through the frame; means for releasably securingthe sliding member in a fixed horizontal position with respect to theframe; a mount secured to a central portion of the sliding member, themount having a recess defined therein for releasably receiving the freeend of the vertically adjustable post of the vertically adjustableportion, wherein the free end of the vertically adjustable post engagesthe mount through the open end of the frame.
 2. The centric relationbite registration tool as recited in claim 1, wherein the main bodyportion of said vertically adjustable portion has a substantiallycylindrical contour.
 3. The centric relation bite registration tool asrecited in claim 2, wherein the first base portion of said verticallyadjustable portion has a substantially frustoconical contour.
 4. Thecentric relation bite registration tool as recited in claim 1, whereinthe second base portion of said horizontally adjustable portion has asubstantially frustoconical contour.
 5. The centric relation biteregistration tool as recited in claim 1, wherein the free end of thesliding member is threaded for releasably engaging a nut.